HE was nobly born at
Autun, in the seventh century, and from his infancy turned all his thoughts
towards virtue. In his childhood he disdained the ordinary amusements of that
age, and in all his actions considered the great end of human life the
sanctification and salvation of his soul. That he might wholly attend to his
only affair without distraction, when he was but thirteen years old, he so
earnestly desired to embrace a monastic life, that his parents, who at first
violently opposed his vocation, overcome by his importunities, presented him
themselves to the abbot of St. Martin’s in Autun. In that monastery then lived
fifty-four fervent monks, whose penitential and regular lives were an odour of
sanctity to the whole country. Merri, in this holy company, grew up in the
perfect exercise and habits of every virtue, especially humility, meekness,
charity, obedience, and a scrupulous observance of every point of the rule.
Being, in process of time, chosen abbot, much against his own inclinations, he
pointed out to his brethren the narrow path of true virtue by example, walking
before them in every duty; and the great reputation of his sanctity drew the
eyes of all men upon him. The dissipation which continual consultations from
distant parts gave him, and a fear of the dangers of forgetting himself, and
falling into the snares of vanity, made him resign his office, and retire
privately into a forest four miles from Autun, where he lay hid some time in a
place called, to this day, St. Merri’s cell. He procured himself all
necessaries of life by the labour of his hands, and found this solitude sweet
by the liberty it gave him of employing his whole time in the exercises of
heavenly contemplation, prayer, and penitential manual labour. The place of his
retreat having at length become public, he was obliged to return to his
monastery; but after having edified his brethren some time, and strengthened
them in the maxims of religious perfection, he again left them, in order to
prepare himself the better for his passage to eternity. He came to Paris with
one companion called Frou or Frodulf, and chose his abode in a small cell
adjoining a chapel dedicated in honour of St. Peter, in the north suburbs of
that city; where, after two years and nine months, during which time he bore
with astonishing patience the fiery trial of a painful lingering illness, he
happily died about the year 700. He was buried in the above-mentioned chapel,
upon the spot where now a great church bears his name, in which his relics are
placed in a silver shrine over the high altar. He is named in the Roman
Martyrology. See his anonymous life in Mabillon’s acts of saints of the Order
of St. Bennet, and Stilting the Bollandist, t. 6, Augusti, p. 518.

Born in Autun, France; died c. 700. While he was about 13, Saint Merry took the
Benedictine habit, probably at Saint Martin's in Autun, where 54 fervent monks
lived, whose penitential and regular lives were an object of edification to the
whole country. Being chosen abbot much against his own inclination, Merry
pointed out to his brethren the narrow path of true virtue by example, walking
before them in every duty, and the reputation of his sanctity drew the eyes of
all men. The distractions that continual consultations from all parts gave him,
and a fear of becoming vain, caused him to resign his office and retire into a
forest four miles from Autun. There he hid for some time. He earned his living
by the work of his hands. When his hiding place became known and he fell ill
about the same time, he was obliged to return to the monastery.

After edifying his
brethren for many years and strengthening them in religious perfection, he
again left them in old age in order to make a pilgrimage to the shrine of Saint
Germanus of Paris (also a native of Autun). In a northern suburb of Paris with
one companion, Saint Frou (Frodulf), he chose to live in a small cell adjoining
a chapel dedicated to Saint Peter. He suffered a painful, lingering illness for
about three years then died happily. On the site of his cell rose the church of
Saint Merry (Benedictines, Encyclopedia, Walsh, White).

In art, Saint
Medericus is portrayed as an abbot with prisoners and chains near him. He may
also be shown experiencing a vision of God the Father or teaching monks. Care
should be taken not to confuse him with Saint Leonard, who is always young
(Roeder). He is venerated especially at Autun and Paris (Roeder).